Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom James 3 13

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom James 3: 13 -18 1

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Seek after wisdom. Proverbs 3: 13 -18; 4: 79 n Walk with wisdom. Ephesians 5: 15 -17 n More than one kind of wisdom … James 3: 13 -18 n 2

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Contrast in origin. James 3: 15 -17 n Earthly wisdom is not from above. Ø Earthly “this kind of wisdom does not come from God; it is characteristic of people” or “this is the kind of wisdom that people produce” (Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain) 3

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Contrast in origin. James 3: 15 -17 n Earthly wisdom is not from above. Ø Sensual. Rendered as "natural" in 1 Corinthians 2: 14; 15: 44, 46 and sensual in James 3: 15; Jude 19. The term psuchikós is not a word of honor even as sarkikós, carnal, is not. (Complete Word Study Dictionary) n What feels right, appeals to the emotions, the passions. 4

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Contrast in origin. James 3: 15 -17 n Earthly wisdom is not from above. Ø Devilish. (demonic) “Resembling or proceeding from an evil spirit, demon-like. ” (Thayer) 5

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Contrast in origin. James 3: 15 -17 n Heavenly wisdom is from above. Ø Comes from God. James 1: 17; cf. 1 Corinthians 2: 1 ff Ø Comes through prayer. James 1: 5 -8 6

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Contrast in nature. n Earthly Wisdom. James 3: 14, 16 Full of bitter jealousy. cf. 1 Corinthians 1: 10; 3: 3; 2 Corinthians 12: 20 n Faction. cf. Galatians 5: 13 ff; 19 ff. n n Extols as virtues such qualities as: n Power n Position n Privilege cf. Apostles. Matthew 18: 1 ff; 20: 20 ff n Prestige. 7

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Contrast in nature. n Heavenly Wisdom. James 3: 17 Pure. No compromise. n Peaceable. cf. Romans 12: 18 n Gentle. Not harsh. cf. 2 Timothy 2: 24 -25 n 8

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Contrast in nature. n Heavenly Wisdom. James 3: 17 n Easy to be entreated. “willing to yield” (NKJV) n “pertaining to being easily persuaded, with the implication of being open to reason or willing to listen, one who is easily persuaded, open to reason. ” (Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain) 9

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Contrast in nature. n Heavenly Wisdom. James 3: 17 Full of mercy. Matthew 5: 7; cf. James 2: 13 n Producing good fruits. cf. James 1: 22; 2: 26 n Without partiality. James 2: 1 -13 n Without hypocrisy. “In the NT, it came to mean one without hypocrisy or pretense, unfeigned, genuine, real, true, sincere (Romans 12: 9; 2 Corinthians 6: 6; 1 Timothy 1: 5; 2 Timothy 1: 5; 1 Peter 1: 22; James 3: 17). ” (Complete Word Study n Dictionary) 10

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Contrast in fruits. n Earthly wisdom. James 3: 16 Confusion. cf. 1 Timothy 1: 3 -7 n Every vile (evil) deed. n 11

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Contrast in fruits. n Heavenly wisdom. James 3: 18 Peace (instead of confusion) n Righteousness (instead of every vile deed) n 12

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Conclusion: n Earthly wisdom boasts. James 3: 14 n Heavenly wisdom demonstrates good conduct done in meekness. James 3: 13 13

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom Conclusion: n What kind of wisdom do we want? Earthly? No effort n Heavenly? Be diligent n n Regarding the gospel of Christ …? Earthly? No effort, No response n Heavenly? Obedience. Romans 6: 16 ff n 14